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Earlier this year, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the much-talked-about healthcare reform bill into law. What does this mean for fitness professionals? According to a press release from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), a focus on prevention may spur employees and employers alike to purchase gym memberships and work with personal trainers. Here is a breakdown of how the new law could affect fitness facilities nationwide, according to IHRSA:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has green-lighted a program to enhance health and wellness throughout the United States. Called “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” the initiative will provide approximately $642 million for programs designed to increase physical activity levels; improve nutrition; lower obesity rates; and
decrease smoking prevalence, teen smoking and second-hand smoke exposure. According to the initiative’s website, the program will target programs at the community, state and

First Lady Michelle Obama wants to change
the way U.S. children eat and play. Disturbed by childhood obesity rates, she has enlisted the help of the White House to launch the Let’s Move campaign. According to a press release, she has gathered support from people in government, medicine, science, business, education and athletics to overcome the childhood overweight/obesity problem. For example, several school lunch suppliers have agreed to
reduce the fat, sugar and salt content of their meals over the next
5 years.

On November 1, 2009, Regina Benjamin, MD, was appointed U.S. Surgeon General. Originally from Alabama, Benjamin was the first black woman to head a state medical society. She is a past recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights and has also received a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant.”

Healthcare reform has been a hot topic
as groups assess the pros and cons of
potential legislation. Two of the goals of the proposed government program (as
of press time) are to provide medical
coverage to more people—regardless of pre-existing conditions—and to reduce premium costs based on health status. Part of the plan includes giving more power to employers to offer greater
incentives, or charge penalties, based
on employee behaviors.

The International Health, Racquet
& Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has announced that the California Personal Trainer Certification Bill will not move forward in 2009. If passed, California Senate Bill 374 would require that personal trainers be certified by a nationally recognized, accredited organization or hold a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology, fitness science or a related field. In June, an amended version of the bill was introduced that would penalize professionals for noncompliance.

“We need to invest in prevention and wellness programs to help Americans live longer and healthier lives.” These words, spoken by President Obama in a town hall speech in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on June 11 of this year (White House Press Office 2009), hit a chord with fitness professionals, who probably nodded their heads in agreement. The statement is obvious, yet carrying it out can prove elusive. “That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do my entire career,” you may be thinking.

In a bid to set an example for companies nationwide, President Obama is looking to help federal employees adopt healthier behaviors. To this end, he sat down with CEOs of companies who have successfully lowered healthcare costs and improved employee health. “As a result of many successful programs at businesses across the country, workers have become more engaged in their own health care, productivity is increasing, absenteeism is dropping and employers are passing some of their healthcare savings to their workers,” states a White House fact sheet.